Nastasiuk and Esposito Return to Grand Rapids
January 17, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Detroit Red Wings on Monday reassigned forward Zach Nastasiuk to the Grand Rapids Griffins from the ECHL's Toledo Walleye while the Griffins recalled rookie forward Luke Esposito from the Walleye.
Reassigned by Detroit to Toledo last Friday, Nastasiuk skated in all three of the division-leading Walleye's wins last weekend and recorded an assist to go with a plus-two rating. The 22-year-old has 13 points (6-7 - 13) and a plus-six rating in 23 appearances in Toledo this season.
Nastasiuk has played in five games with the Griffins this season and notched one goal. Detroit's second choice, 48th overall, in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Nastasiuk has appeared in 50 career games with the Griffins since joining the team at the end of the 2013-14 season, compiling 10 points (4-6 - 10) and four penalty minutes. He's also added an assist in 11 Calder Cup Playoff tilts.
Playing in 95 career ECHL contests since 2015 all with the Walleye, Nastasiuk has 67 points (29-38 - 67) and a plus-25 rating.
Esposito, 24, has split his rookie campaign between Toledo and Grand Rapids. He's produced five points (2-3 - 5) in 13 games with the Walleye, including a goal and a plus-one rating in three appearances last weekend. The 5-foot-10, 183-pound forward shows two assists and six penalty minutes in 13 contests with the Griffins.
Prior to turning pro, Esposito played at Harvard (ECAC) from 2013-17 and accumulated 89 points (31-58 - 89) in 131 games. He set career highs in goals (16), assists (20) and points (36) as a senior in 2016-17 and helped the Crimson advance to the Frozen Four for the first time since 1994.
Esposito was named the BCHL Rookie of the Year in 2012-13 after leading the league in assists and tying for third in points (17-54 - 71) in 55 games with the Chilliwack Chiefs.
The Griffins face the Milwaukee Admirals on Wednesday at 7 p.m. to conclude a three-game homestand.
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